Telecommunication system and method enabling a user to get access to an automated call processing from a central station operating on pulse dialling mode

Abstract

The present invention is related to a telecommunication system and method enabling a user to get access to any of automated call processing systems. The system comprises in combination a telephone line interface means adapted to provide function of a telephone set, a control means connected to the telephone line interface means, and adapted to constantly monitor the telephone line, analyze a call progress and a ring back tone signals and to switch automatically without human intervention from a pulse dialling mode to a DTMF dialling mode upon detection of a ring back signal validated by a central office. This system also includes a handset and keypad means connected to a telephone interface means and the control means. The central office processes calls in a pause dialling mode. The system enables the user to get access to automated call processing systems, the access to which is limited only to callers equipped with a DTMF telephones and central office base DTMF services. The telephone interface means are adapted to detect the presence of a ring signal on the telephone line, wherein the ring signal is indicating a receiving call mode. The control means are adapted to detect the presence of a ring back signal, wherein the ring back signal is indicating a placing call mode.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Telecommunication system enabling a user to get access to any automated call processing systems, said system comprising in combination: a telephone line interface means adapted to provide function of a telephone set;   a control means connected to said telephone line interface means and adapted to constantly monitor the telephone line, analyze call progress and a ring back tone signals, and to switch automatically without human intervention from a pulse dialling mode to a DTMF dialling mode upon detection of a validated central office ring back signal; and   a handset and keypad means connected to said telephone interface means and said control means;   wherein said central office processes calls in a pulse dialling mode and wherein said system enables the user to get access to said automated call processing systems, the access to which is limited only to callers equipped with a DTMF telephone and a central office service of DTMF.   
     
     
       2. Telecommunication system according to claim 1, wherein said telephone interface means are adapted to detect a ring signal on said telephone line, wherein said ring signal is indicating a receiving call mode. 
     
     
       3. Telecommunication system according to claim 1, wherein said control means are adapted to detect a ring back signal, wherein said ring back signal is indicating a placing call mode. 
     
     
       4. Telecommunication system according to claim I, wherein said control means comprises: a microcontroller means and   a differential amplifier means.   
     
     
       5. Telecommunication system according to claim 1, wherein said telephone line interface means comprises: a microprocessor means and   a pulse dialling means.   
     
     
       6. Telecommunication system according to claim 5, wherein said microprocessor means further comprises a DTMF generator means adapted to provide the DTMF dialling mode. 
     
     
       7. Telecommunication system according to claim 4, wherein said differential amplifier means is connected to the telephone line and is adapted to detect the ring back signal. 
     
     
       8. Telecommunication system according to claim 4, wherein said microcontroller means is adapted to monitor and analyze presence of the ring signal detected by said telephone interface means. 
     
     
       9. Telecommunication system according to claim 7, wherein said microcontroller means are adapted to monitor and analyze an output of said differential amplifier means. 
     
     
       10. Telecommunication system according to claim 7, wherein said microcontroller means are adapted to operate in the pulse dialling mode as the default mode upon placing a call. 
     
     
       11. Telecommunication system according to claim 7, wherein said microcontroller means are adapted to disable said pulse dialling means and to enable said DTMF generator means after the ring back signal is detected by said differential amplifier means and after said ring back signal was analyzed and confirmed by said microcontroller means. 
     
     
       12. Telecommunication system according to claim 4, wherein the handset means is connected to said telephone interface means and said keypad means is connected to said microcontroller means. 
     
     
       13. Telecommunication system according to claim 12, wherein in said pulse dialling mode a keypad entries will be transferred into a pulse signals, and in said DTMF dialling mode the keypad entries will be transferred into a DTMF signals. 
     
     
       14. Telecommunication method enabling a user to get access to an automated call processing system, such as voice mail or the like, the access to which is strictly limited to a DTMF dialling mode, from central office restricted to processing calls in a pulse dialling mode, said method comprising the following steps: constantly monitoring a telephone line;   analyzing a tone progress signal on said telephone line;   switching in a correct instant between the pulse dialling mode and the DTMF dialling mode to facilitate the access to said automated call processing.   
     
     
       15. Telecommunication method according to claim 14, wherein the monitoring of said telephone line is provided to detect a ring signal indicating a receiving call mode. 
     
     
       16. Telecommunication method according to claim 14, wherein the monitoring of said telephone line is provided to detect a ring back signal indicating a placing call mode. 
     
     
       17. Telecommunication method according to claim 15, wherein in said receiving call mode the DTMF dialling mode is activated to allow further DTMF entries. 
     
     
       18. Telecommunication method according to claim 16, wherein in said placing call mode said pulse dialling mode is firstly activated in the moment when the user started to initiate his call via said central office operating on the pulse dialling mode. 
     
     
       19. Telecommunication method according to claim 18, wherein in said placing call mode the DTMF dialling mode is further activated after the detection of the ring back signal was analyzed and confirmed to enable the user to get access to said automated call processing. 
     
     
       20. Telecommunication method according to claim 18, wherein in said placing call mode the DTMF dialling mode is disactivated until the confirmation of the detection of said ring back signal, wherein said confirmation is indicating that the call has been processed by the central office. 
     
     
       21. Telecommunication method according to claim 15 wherein in said receiving call mode the ring signal is detected by a telephone interface means. 
     
     
       22. Telecommunication method according to claim 14, wherein the monitoring and analyzing of said telephone line is provided by a control means. 
     
     
       23. Telecommunication method according to claim 21, wherein the detection of said ring back signal in said placing call mode is provided by differential amplifier means incorporated within said control means. 
     
     
       24. Telecommunication method according to claim 22, wherein said control means are providing automatic switching between said pulse dialling mode and said DTMF dialling mode in response upon analysis of the tone progress signal of said telephone line, wherein said tone progress signal is the ring back signal processed by said central office. 
     
     
       25. Telecommunication method according to claim 21, wherein said DTMF dialling mode is provided by means of a DTMF generator means incorporated within said telephone interface means. 
     
     
       26. Telecommunication method according to claim 22, wherein said pulse dialling mode is provided by a pulse dialling means incorporated within said control means. 
     
     
       27. Telecommunication method according to claim 24, wherein said telephone interface means are communicating with said control means by means of a set of predetermined commands providing successful operation of all steps of said method. 
     
     
       28. Telecommunication method according to claim 22, wherein dialling entries are provided by a keypad means connected to said control means and wherein in said pulse dialling mode said entries will be transferred into the pulse dialling signals and in said DTMF dialling mode said entries will be transferred into the DTMF dialling signals.